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Obama confident his staff is clear in Ill. gov scandal

President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday that
he's confident no member of his staff was involved in discussing
deals for his Senate seat with disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod
Blagojevich.

Obama also said once again that he had no discussions about the
seat he is vacating with the Democratic governor, who was arrested
by federal agents this week in connection with an alleged
corruption scheme.

"I was as appalled and disappointed as anyone," Obama said at
a news conference called to announce a series of new appointments
to his administration.

"I have never spoken to the governor on this subject," he
said. "I am confident that no representative of mine" would have
taken part in any such discussions, he added.

Tom DaschleNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

He said "I think the public trust has been violated" and said
he did not think that the governor "at this point can effectively
serve Illinois.

"I do not think the governor at this point can effectively
serve," he said.

He also said he wants to make sure the selection of a new
senator isn't tainted.

Obama said neither he nor his staff had been contacted by
federal officials in connection with the probe.
Obama announced he has chosen former
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Ddakota to be his secretary of Health
and Human Services.

It's a choice that was known for some time, but it was made
official this morning. Obama described the former South Dakota senator as "one of America's
foremost health care experts."